Pressure reducing and regulating



April 1935. P. c. TEMPLE PRESSURE REDUCING AND REGULATING VALVE Original Filed May 29, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jig April 23, 1935. c, TEMPLE Re. 19,545

PRESSURE REDUCING AND REGULATING VALVE Original Filed May 29, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Reissued Apr. 23, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Paul C. Temple, Decatur, 111., assignor to A. W. Cash Company, Decatur, 111., a corporation of Delaware Original No. 1,885,389, dated November 1, 1932, Serial No. 540,869, May 29, 1931. Application for reissue August 15, 1934, Serial No. 740,653

14 Claims.

My invention relates to pressure reducing valves and the objects of my invention, among others are to maintain the reduced pressure practically uniform and with minimum fluctuations under varying demands and operating conditions, to adapt the valve for wider use in divers environments by satisfying requirements for large volume flow and for wide range of pressure reduction, to readily accommodate the valve for delivery of the fluid at reduced pressure either above or below atmospheric pressure, to provide a cheap, simple and durable structure for satisfactory performance of the above functions, and to provide for easy accessibility of the parts.

To these ends and others which will become apparent hereinafter, my invention consists in the features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent as the invention is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

0n the drawings,

Figure 1 is a central vertical section a valve embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view with parts shown in section as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate modified forms of removable valve units, the parts being shown in longitudinal section in both views.

Referring first to Fig. l, the valve shell or body comprises two parts or castings I and 3 having mating flanges held together by bolts in the usual way. A diaphragm 9, having its edges clamped between the two castings, divides the valve body into a spring chamber Ill and a control pressure chamber ll.

One end of the body part I has a threaded opening I2 into which is screwed a tubular valve housing ll having its enlarged exterior end IS in the form of a nut to permit the valve housing and parts carried thereby to be mounted in place and readily removable when desired. The outer end of the bore in the valve housing is threaded to receive a supply pipe It in which the fluid is maintained at the initial high pressure. At the opposite end of the shell part 1 and in axial alinement with the housing It there is an opening l8 having a threaded portion for receiving the end of a delivery pipe l1. Secured against a shoulder in the bore of the valve housing I4 is a hardened through ring 2|] having a valve seat 2|. A hardened tube 22 is fixedly mounted in the inner end of the valve housing and serves as a bearing for a valve member 23 having a conical valve head 24 and a sleeve or tubular portion 25 which is provided with large holes 28 adjacent the valve head. A tube 21 has its reduced threaded end screwed into the threaded end of the tubular portion 25 of'the valve member. A circular rib 28 on the sleeve 25 coacts with the ring 30 which has a conical inner surface to permit the ring to adjust itself on the rib 28. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a bell crank lever 3| is mounted on a stud 32 carried by the casing member 1 and the arm 29 of the lever is forked to straddle the tube 21 and press against the ring 30 at points on opposite sides of the axis of the tube.

The other forked arm 34 (Figs. 1 and 2) of the lever 3| straddles a stud 35 which depends from the diaphragm and carries a ring 36 coacting with a nut 3! in the same way as the ring 30 coacts'with the rib 29.

The customary bearing plate 39 is mounted on the upper side of the diaphragm 9 and a threaded pin 40, projecting upwardly from the stud35, extends through a hole in the plate 39 and is screwed into a threaded opening in the lower end of an auxiliary spring housing 4|. The stub 35 has an enlarged polygonal flange 42 to permit the application of a wrench, the diaphragm and plate 39 being firmly clamped between the flange 42 and lower end of the spring housing 4|. The upper end of the spring housing has an inturned flange 43 against which the upper end of a light helical spring 45 is adapted to bear. The lower end of the spring 45 rests on a nut threaded on the lower end of the bolt 46, the upper end of which projects loosely through an opening in an adjustable cap 41 forming the upper end of the spring casing 9 into which it is screwed. Nuts 49, threaded on the upper projecting end 01' the bolt 6, permit nicety of adjustment of the spring 45. A heavy helical spring 48 is interposed between the cap 41 and the bearing plate 39.

In describing the operation of the device, let it first be assumed that the spring I9 is under compression to load the diaphragm and that the spring 45 is free and without effect, this condition being established by screwing the cap 41 downwardly. The normal reduced pressure in the delivery line is then greater than atmospheric pressure. By normal reduced pressure, I mean the selected pressure in the delivery line during zero demand, that is to say, with the delivery pipe I! closed. When a normal demand is created by cutting in the equipment to be controlled or operated by the fluid flowing through the valve, the pressure in the delivery opening I8 drops slightly and as the control pressure space II is in communication with the delivery opening 18 through the annular passage 50, between the end of the tube 21 and the plain bore of the opening la, the pressure in the control chamber drops correspondingly. Thus the pressure load on the underside of the diaphragm is decreased and the spring 48 moves the diaphragm and stud 35 downwardly and as movement of the lever 3| is now permitted, the initial high pressure of the fluid in the supply opening 5|, acting on the head 24 of the valve, moves the valve permitting. fluid flow through the valve and tube 21 into the delivery pipe. 1

As the tube 21 is relatively restricted near its inner or threaded end, the velocity of the fluid is increased at this point and, as the fluid passes out of the tube 21 into the pipe l1, it creates a suction or aspirating effect through the passage 50, further reducing the pressure in the control pressure space H with the result that the valve is still-further opened so that an increased flow of fluid to the delivery pipe is permitted until the pressure in the delivery pipe builds up to the normal reduced pressure and then the valve seats and maintains a definite position so long as the demand remains uniform. Should the demand continue to increase, the increased velocity of the fluid passing the aspirating passage would further weaken the pressure in the control pres sure space and the valve would be opened further to a corresponding extent. As the demand falls ofl', the pressure in the delivery pipe and control pressure space builds up and the valve flnally closes when the demand becomes zero. The positioning of the end of the tube within the plain bore of the delivery opening, as shown in Fig. 1, prevents pulsation under all conditions.

If the valve is to be used in an environment in which the normal reduced pressure is below atmospheric pressure, it is necessary to provide means tending to raise the diaphragm as otherwise the atmospheric pressure on the upper side of the diaphragm would be greater than the pressure exerted on the underside when the pressure in the control pressure space built up to normal and the valve would not close. To this end, I provide the spring 45. When the normal reduced pressure is to be below atmospheric pressure, the cap 41 is turned to raise it by the screw threaded action so that the load on the spring 48 is relieved and the spring 45 is placed under compression. This single adjustment may be sufiicient to accomplish this double purpose. The nuts 49 on the bolt 45 may be turned to further adjust the spring 45 if desired. It will be apparent that with the valve in this condition, it operates as described above, except that the spring 48 is inactive and atmospheric pressure alone loads the diaphragm and the spring 45 acts against this pressure. It will be noted that I have eliminated the use of. any spring in the control pressure space or where it would be subjected to any deteriorating effect of the fluid handled by the valve.

Under some unusual conditions, such as when the initial pressure is extremely high, say 900 pounds, and the normal reduced pressure is slightly above atmospheric pressure, for example 20 pounds, the spring 48 is disabled and the spring 45 enabled because of the great pressure exerted on the end of the valve together with the atmospheric pressure exerted on top of the diaphragm exercise a greater force than the force exerted of ordinary size. The above described aspirating action contributes to the performance of this function, but I still further increase the capacity by constructing the valve and arranging the inlet opening, valve and delivery opening so that the fluid flow through the valve is substantially straight. More particularly, the inlet opening 5|, the valve housing M, the valve member 23 and tube 21 and the delivery opening H are all arranged in axial alinement and the head 24 of the valve is shaped and the large holes 26 placed so that the fluid flows in a straight line through the structure except as it passes the valve head and there the path is slightly curved and not a sharp or right angle bend.

Another advantage of my valve is that, due to the peculiar arrangement of the parts, as above described, when the seat of the valve becomes worn, any slight leakage will tend to build up pressure in the diaphragm control chamber H and thereby provide additional closing force for the valve.

It will be noted that I have provided for ready accessibility and removability of the various parts of the valve without disturbing the parts not removed. The valve housing I4, togetherwith the valve and tube as a unit, may be removed and replaced without affecting the lever 3| or any of the adjustments.

In Fig. 4, I have shown another form of the valve unit. It will be evident that in this instance the tube !la is formed integral with the sleeve of the valve member 23a. The tube 21a is venturi shape having its most restricted portion at the center of the tube, rather than at the end as in the form shown in Fig. l. The valve seat 2 la is in the form of a circular rib on the housing Ma and this seat is adapted to be engaged by a valve disk 55 secured to the valve member by a conically headed screw 56.

The valve member 23a is provided with enlarged'openings 250 (preferably four in number) adjacent the valve disk 55. The tapered portion 54 into which screw 56 is threaded has a substantially conical cross-section, as seen in Fig. 4, thereby giving a streamline efiect to the valve. This constitutes a trailing edge which has the function of compelling a substantially straightline 'or streamline flow by preventing the formation of back-eddies, or detours of the fluid, or a retarding vacuum eflfect at this point, with the net result of maximum flow with minimum friction loss.

. It will be observed that the end of the tube 21a. projects into the flared end of the modified delivery opening l8a, so that the aspirating passage 50a varies in size and effect as the valve is moved different extents. 5

In Fig. 5, I have shown still another form of valve unit. In this instance, the housing MD has an interior tubular projection 51 provided with two valve seats 58 and 59 and enlarged openings 60 (preferably four) between the valve seats. The valve member 231: is in the form of a sleeve having two seats BI and 62 adapted to engage the seats 58 and 59, respectively. Beyond the seat 62, the valve sleeve is provided with a plurality of inclined openings 64. Screwed into the inner end of the valve sleeve is a Venturi tube 21b.

The operation of the valve is the same as that described above in connection with the form shown in Fig. 1 except when the valve is open fluid from the high pressure side names through the openings 60 and into the open end of the valve sleeve and also through a groove in the sleeve, an annular space 56, and the openings into the valve.

While I have herein described in detail specific features that I claim for their particular advantage, it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a pressure reducing and regulating valve, 2. structure providing a high pressure space, a control pressure space and a delivery opening, a pressure responsive member subjected to the ,influence of the pressure in said control pressure space, a spring acting on said member, a valve associated with said member, and a tube affording an aspirating passage between said control pressure chamber and said delivery opening and automatically movable axially of said delivery opening responsive to said pressure responsive member.

2. In a pressure reducing and regulating valve, a structure providing a control pressure space and a high pressure opening and a delivery passage in axial alignment, a pressure responsive member under the influence of the pressure in said control pressure space, a valve associated with said pressure responsive member for controlling the fiow from said high pressure opening, and a tube afio'rding an aspirating passage between said control pressure chamber and said delivery passage, the tube being in axial alignment with said delivery passage and high pressure opening and movable with the valve.

3. In a pressure reducing and regulating valve, a structure providing a high pressure opening, a delivery opening in axial alignment therewith, and a control pressure space, a valve having a sleeve, a tube having a restricted portion in axial alignment with said sleeve and delivery opening and providing an aspirating opening between the control pressure space and the delivery opening, and a pressure responsive member influenced by the pressure in said control pressure space and associated with said valve and tube.

4. In a'pressure reducing and regulating valve, a structure providing a high pressure opening, a delivery opening in axial alignment therewith, and a control pressure space, a valve having a sleeve, the valve being opened with and by the high pressure at said high pressure opening, a tube having a restricted portion in alignment with said sleeve and delivery opening and providing an aspirating opening between the control pressure space and the delivery opening, a pressure responsive member influenced by the pressure in said control pressure space and associated with said .valve, and a spring acting on said pressure responsive member and tending to move the latter to permit the valve to open.

5. In a pressure reducing and regulating valve, 2. structure providing a high pressure opening, a control pressure space, and a delivery passage.

a valve coacting with said opening and having a sleeve portion, a tube causing an aspirating eifect between the flow and the control pressure space, said opening, delivery passage, sleeve portion and tube being in axial alignment, and a pressure responsive member associated with said valve.

6. In a pressure reducing and regulating valve, a casing providing a control pressure space and having a delivery opening, a valve housing mounted in said casing and having a tubular extension projecting into said control pressure space, a valve mounted in said tubular extension, and an aspirating tube, said tubular extension, delivery opening and aspirating tube being in axial alignment, and a pressure responsive member associated with said valve.

'7. In a pressure reducing and regulating valve, a casing providing a control pressure space and having a delivery opening, a valve housing de mount'ably positioned in the wall of said casing and having a valve seat, a valve coacting with said seat, a tube for causing an aspirating efiect between said control pressure space and thefluid flow, a pressure responsive member, and connections controlled by said pressure responsive member for controlling the valve, said valve and tube being removable with said valve housing without disturbing said connections.

8. In a pressure reducing and regulating valve, a casing providing a control pressure space and having a delivery opening, a valve housing demountably mounted in said casing and having a tubular extension projecting into said control pressure space, a valve mounted in said tubular extension, and an aspirating tube, said tubular extension, delivery opening and aspirating tube being in axial alignment and said valve and aspirating tube being removable from the casing as a unit with the valve housing, and a pressure responsive member associated with said valve.

9. In a pressure reducing and regulating valve, a structure providing a control pressure space and a spring chamber, a diaphragm between said space andchamber, a spring in said chamber acting on said diaphragm, a removable valve housing projecting into said control pressure space, a valve mounted in said housing, a stud projecting from said diaphragm, an abutment on said stud, an abutment on said valve, and a lever having two forked arms one contacting with said first mentioned abutment at points on opposite sides of the axis 01' said stud and the other contacting with said second mentioned abutment at points on opposite sides of the axis of said valve, the valve housing and valve being removable without disturbing said lever.

10. In a pressure reducing and regulating valve,

a structure providing a control pressure space, a

high pressure space, a valve opening, a delivery opening in axial alignment with the valve opening, and a tubular valve housing, a pressure responsive member, and a valve member in said housing and having a head and a sleeve, the sleeve being in axial alignment with said openings and being provided with apertures, and the head, housing and aperture beingJEormed and arranged so that the fluid flow is straight except for a relatively small bending as the fluid passes the valve head.

11. In a pressure reducing and regulating valve, 2. structure providing a control pressure space, a high pressure space, a valve opening, a delivery opening in alignment with the valve opening, a

. tubular valve housing, a pressure responsive member, and a valve member housed by said housing and having a sleeve with the sleeve in axial alignment with said openings, the housing and valve being so formed and arranged that the fluid flow from the valve opening to the delivery opening is substantially straight and is through the housins and sleeve.

12. In a pressure reducing and regulating valve having a high pressure space and a delivery opening, a valve structure therebetween comprising a tubular sleeve member, a valve member secured to one end thereof, and means whereby a streamline eflect is obtained, thereby compelling straightline flow between said high pressure space and said delivery opening.

13. In a pressure reducing and regulating valve having a high pressure space and a delivery opening, a valve structure comprising a tubular sleeve member provided with a valve member secured to one end, a plurality of openings adjacent said valve member, and means insuring a streamline effect and compelling substantially straightline flow of a fluid from said high pressure space through said openings and said sleeve to said deliveryopening.

14. In a pressure reducing and regulating valve, 3. structure providing a high pressure space, a control pressure space and a delivery passage having a circular bore, a pressure responsive member under the influence of the pressure in said control pressure space, a spring acting on PAUL C. TEMPLE. 20 

